Nuremberg trade fair: Up to 30,000 people from all over the world will converge on the German city of Nuremberg over the coming days for Biofach 2004, the world organic trade fair.
The official programme of events runs from Thursday to Sunday next, during which time over 2,000 trade stands will show off the latest in organic food and natural products. One key theme is the country of the year, which is The Netherlands. Following the Dutch government's campaign to boost the national organic market in 2001, the sector has grown by more than 12 per cent, with a 3.5 per cent increase in organic companies and a 9 per cent increase in sales of organic produce. A discussion, Bridging Agriculture and Dining Culture, will be co-hosted by IFOAM, the world organic farming organisation and Slow Food, the movement to promote quality foods and dining. See also www.biofach.de.
Organic action in EU
Will the EU lead the way to an organic future? This is the question posed by Francis Blake, president of the EU group of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM). In an article in the current Biofach journal, he points to the promised EU Organic Action Plan and the increasing recognition of the goal of sustainable production in the Common Agricultural Policy as positive signs.
Blake believes organic farming will become the predominant system of farming in the long term - by which he means in 30 years' time or more.
"Once we get to 20 per cent or 30 per cent organic land and market share, then we will be operating in a very different environment which is likely to favour more strongly a still wider conversion to organic," he writes.
With less than one per cent of agricultural land farmed organically in Ireland and the recent scaling down of operations at Ireland's only research centre for organic food in Co Galway, we truly have a long way to go in this country to reach Blake's expectations. See also www.ifoam.org.
Weekend workshop
"The reality is that even while our leaders have learned to parrot some acceptable environment-speak for European consumption, we are living right now through a sustained and remarkably successful backlash against the environmental movement." This quote from Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole sets the tone for a weekend of workshops, master classes and discussions organised by Friends of the Irish Environment in Allihies, Co Cork, next weekend (cost €85). Included in the events programme for Dealing with the Backlash is a session on the enforcement of European environmental law by Áine Ryall from the Law Department of University College Cork. Booking on 062 71017 or e-mail murphycaroline@eircom.net.
Healing healthfood
Qualified naturopath and nurse Gaby Wieland will lead a one-day workshop on wholefood cooking in the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will also learn about healing through diet. Cost €75. Booking on 071 9854338 or e-mail organiccentre@eircom.net.